He was the last person invited to the Champions Challenge and he was the last man standing when it was all over.

Aaron Krickstein ? a late replacement for Frenchman Henri Leconte ? lifted the inaugural title on Saturday night, beating Sweden?s Mikael Pernfors 6-3, 6-2 under Coral Beach Club?s floodlights.

The 37-year-old thoroughly enjoyed himself here and hinted he would love to return to defend his crown next year.

?I would love it if they would (invite me back). It?s a great spot and first-class organisation and people really support the event so what?s not to like about it?

?It?s wonderful to come here,? said Krickstein, once ranked number six in the world.

?I was called about five weeks ago and I was happy to come. I?ve been the Director of Tennis at St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton for four years so I don?t get an opportunity to play in these events too often.

?When I do get invited, I enjoy coming out and seeing old friends like Jim (Courier), Mikael (Pernfors) and Mats (Wilander) and I still hit the ball pretty well and like to compete. It was fun playing here in Bermuda.?

The newest innovation at the XL Capital Bermuda Open, featuring four past top tennis players, was well received by an appreciative Centre Court crowd who had earlier seen Krickstein advance to the finale by ousting former world number one Courier while Pernfors got the better of his compatriot Wilander in the other instant semi-final.

In a rain-interrupted match, continued from Friday evening, Krickstein overcame fellow American Courier in the Challenge?s special championship format. Krickstein took the first set 7-6 by winning a tiebreak 11-9 while his rival took the second set 7-5. The winner was then determined by another extended tiebreak in which Krickstein prevailed 12-10, clinching victory with a backhand past Courier at net.

Pernfors, who delighted the crowd with antics and lots of byplay with Wilander, was instantly the sentimental favourite and those watching urged him on in both of his matches.

Shots through his legs, with his back to the court or kneeling down drew applause from spectators as did the ?war? of words between him and Wilander who won the first set 6-1 before losing the second 6-3 and the deciding tiebreak 10-6.

As Wilander, the winner of seven Grand Slam titles in his career, served for the opening set, he queried whether one could swear in Swedish to which the chair umpire replied ?yes? since he didn?t understand the language.

Wilander promptly served an ace to go 40-15 up and Pernfors quipped ?I don?t know why you would want to swear after that? to which his opponent responded ?Actually I was preparing him (the umpire) for your outburst? and served another ace to claim the set.

?Like after that,? declared a laughing Wilander as Pernfors feigned disgust.

Fans loved it all and were somewhat disappointed that the third-place play-off between Courier and Wilander had to be cancelled because Courier fell ill.

Alas, there?s always 2006.